Why do some Christians say that Christianity is not a religion?

Question

It's so absurd, how some Christians can say this with a straight face.

Let's look at the definitions of "religion" and "Christianity" from the Merrian-Webster dictionary, and then see if Christianity is or is not a religion.

RELIGION definition:
1 a : the state of a religious b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

CHRISTIANITY definition:
1 : the religion derived from Jesus Christ , based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies
2 : conformity to the Christian religion
3 : the practice of Christianity

Source: Merrian-Webster dictionary:
http://www.m-w.com/

So you see, Christianity a religion. Admit to that, why cringe from it?

If you say that Christianity isn't about pomp and ritual, look at Definition 2 of "religion" again:

a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices

You see? It includes a
"Religion" isn't a dirty word. Let's get real.

Some have explained why "religion" isn't a favorable description of Christianity, even though it's a correct one. This shying from the word "religion" is based upon negative connotations with the word and not based upon the actual denotation of it - the actual definition.

Let's get rid of the connotations - clear the mind - and see the word "religion" for what it is. It is a set of organized personal spiritual belief/faith.

When Christians call their belief the Un-Religion, it confuses a lot of people. Please stop it.

mark101112, you are right, I am not a Christian. (GASP!!!) Just kidding, lol. I'm a Baha'i, and yes, the Baha'i Faith is a religion based upon the teachings of Baha'u'llah. (http://www.bahai.org)

That was not the point of my question though, but thank you for mentioning that I'm not a Christian. It gave me the opportunity to say "Baha'i" lol.

Yes, Baha'is have an organized set of beliefs, a personal relationship with God. Same is true for Christians. You see? Religion isn't a bad word, it's a word!

sisterzeal2: They are not definitions, but those found in the Merrian-Webster dictionary. If you disagree with any of them, write to Merrian-Webster, not to me.

Look folks, Christianity is a religion. I didn't make this up, just look at the dictionary definitions above. Why some Christians deny this is crazy, really. Who said that when you are a part of a religion, you can't have a relationship wth God? No one said that. However, the "religion" part of Christianity comes not from the relationship part, but from the standard set of belief - God, Jesus as Messiah, Bible as Word of God, salvation through following Jesus, etc. All Christians believe in these things, regardless of their liturgic practice, or lack, thereof.

Look, I used to be one of those Un-Religion Christians. However, every Sunday we'd have:

1) greetings
2) opening prayer
3) hymns
4) Bible reading
5) sermon
6) closing prayer
7) closing hymn

and it was IN THAT ORDER. What do you think this was? It was a set of liturgical practices, and it was in a FUNDAMENTALIST BAPTIST church.

Yes, Christianity is a RELIGION that encourages a RELATIONSHIP with God.

Answer 1

i really like the way anonymous lutheran and everyday catholic answered this (though the latter may have been a little bit harsh). christianity is a full-on religion, but fundamentalists will argue otherwise. they will say that christianity is about a relationship with God, and i don't disagree, but i don't think most fundamentalists understand that we believe liturgical worship to be given to us by God Himself. the psalms were intended to be sung. they were given to us by God, and we are to reflect them back to Him as praise. as i said, most american protestants don't understand this. they only see liturgy as a bunch of empty-hearted, memorized lines, and because of their misunderstanding, they dislike it. they view it as a religious practice, and since ''religion'' has become somewhat of a dirty word, they have come up with their own definition of christianity.

Answer 2

Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism. In the Bible it mentions Pagan tribes dwelling across the Hebrews. So definitely the pagan religions are older. I could say within the early days Judaism borrowed matters from the pagans. An illustration of that is the tale of Noah and the flood. There is a tale that's approximately 1000 years older, that the Babylonians got here up with. It is referred to as the Gilgamesh epic and likewise tells of a high-quality flood and a ship developed to avoid wasting mankind. The main points vary a few however the premise is just about same. By definition, protestants and catholics each are Christians as they each comply with Christ. Also in that method they're working towards the equal faith because the early disciples. Of direction no longer in all main points as all matters difference over the years. Judaism at present, is for the significant facet, the equal because it used to be with Abraham and Moses. The greatest difference is that they've extra scriptures now. The motive being is that the Old testomony of the Christians' Bible is the Jew's Torah, and so they actually have a ebook of rabbinical teachings. The Talmud I suppose, which grows over the years.

Answer 3

Probably Christians say this because we don't believe that any form of prayer, worship, or other "religious activity" can justify us before our Creator and save us from our sin. These activities serve to bring fellowship with God (and each other), but they do not effect our spiritual position before Him. What differentiates the Christan "religion" with other religions is that these other ones use the above stated activities to "save" them so that in the end God (or Higher Power) will rule them a "good" person based on their works whereas in Christianity it's simply based on faith and trust in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

Michael B expresses this very well from the "we're not a religion" point of view. Allow me to elaborate from the "we *are* a religion" point of view.

Religion implies tradition, handed down through generations. The various Christian separatist movements that have occurred since the Reformation have rejected tradition and reinvented Christianity as being a spiritual awakening that initiates a "living relationship." The majorty of American Protestants fall into this camp, and can be roughly identified by their rejection of infant baptism.

This branch of Christianity, which in America is usually called "evangelical" or "neo-evangelical" (and also includes Baptist, Holiness, and Pentecostal churches to some extent) is of a kindred spirit with those who describe themselves as "spiritual, not religious." They see Christianity as somewhat of a system of thought in which traditions are wholly irrelevant, and their motivation becomes "what the Holy Spirit is doing" in their lives.

I think for people who see Christianity this way, it's fair to say they *think* they're not practicing a religion. This view of Christianity separates revivalism from traditionalism, ironically making "revival" into an event that revives nothing but rather throws all old things out the window. The conscientious Christian who tries to live like this will find himself conflicted, as revival and tradition pull him in opposite directions.

The religious view of Christianity doesn't have this problem, because we understand "revival" to mean revival of the historic Christian faith (which should be obvious just from the meaning of the word).

Edit: Upon further reflection, I want to add that those of us who are in the religious/traditionalist camp are usually quite uncomfortable with the word "revival," which I introduced into my answer because of its historical relevance to the question. We do not believe that anything needs "reviving," as we do not believe any truly Christian church can be dead or even nearly so.

Answer 5

3. is the correct definition of Christianity under your definition. Some people interpret it as a religion and if it's organized religion with some Born Again Christians participating in that religion that doesn't mean Christianity is religion. Just like parking a car in a garage doesn't make the garage a car.

Under your Religion definitions notice #2 and #4
By this definition, religion which is something practiced regularily would mean that prisons, schools and other intitutions would be religious in nature and what they make people conform to and follow. #4 would make Politics, Idolizing certain singers, stars, and movies and yes it would even make the evolution theory a religion. Wow. I think you just hanged yourself with your own definitions maybe I"m not sure.

Answer 6

Well, Christianity IS a religion, but it isn't ONLY a religion. I believe that in Christianity, we actually have a personal relationship with God. We don't just worship Him from afar and try to follow the laws as best as we can. Since I became a Christian ten months ago, I remain in constant fellowship with God, thanking Him, praising Him, talking to Him, asking Him for blessings, requesting various things from Him, depending on Him to bring me joy and peace...

Christianity is so much MORE than a religion.

Answer 7

Please allow me to explain why some Christians don't like the term religion. You see what we are called to is not religion but faith and a relationship to God. Religion has a connotation of organization and practices and religions tend to pick up all kinds of uninspired customs. For example Christmas. Jesus was not born on Dec 25. Originally there was a pagan holiday that celebrated the winter solstice (Pagans will probably be happy to give detail here.) and folks in the church wanted to exploit this custom that the pagans had and converted their holiday to one that celebrated Jesus. Faith doesn't do that, religion does. So you see, in many respects "religion" is a four letter word.

Answer 8

James 1:26-27
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

This is what religion is.

Does having a belief in something automatically put you in a religion?

And the word "christianity" didnt come from the believers that followed it but the people that were mocking the believers. We just took it and ran with it. so even your definition of "christianity" is incorrect.

Answer 9

Christians do not want to say they belong to a religion because areligion has a set of rituals and beliefs. Many people want to believe in God and to worhip Him based on their own rules and preferences.

Following a religion means that you may have to do things that you are not comfortable with or having to not do things that you like to do.

The people that say that religion gets in their way of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ are actually saying that they do not want to have to obey any rules that contradtict how they want to live their life.

Answer 10

I think they define religion as a prescribed set of rules without any soul (so to speak). Which, when you think about it, certainly casts judgment on a great deal of people they share this world with. Pity. You don't find "religious" folk doing that to them.